Acts 14:19-20..19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

Paul was left for dead–the disciples stood around him undoubtedly praying– and he got up and went back to proclaiming the gospel. This was some type of miraculous healing. There are two kinds of prayers [1] when we know the will of God as received from the word of God and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. We can pray this prayer confidently. A And [2] when we do not know the will of God; while praying fervently with perseverance, we must include “Your will be done” in these prayers. There are three kinds of answers from God, [1] yes, [2] no, and [3] later. All answers are supernatural miracles from and the all-hearing, all-present, all-powerful and all-wise God who knows what is best for each disciple in the light of eternity.

The pattern of successful preaching followed by great division in the community was repeated throughout Paul’s ministry. [Acts 13:48-50]; Paul moved to the next place and kept preaching. [Acts 14:6-7,14:19-22]

Paul later described the many physical attacks he received for proclaiming the gospel yet he kept proclaiming Jesus until Nero took his life. “24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.” BPaul never quit proclaiming Jesus!

What can I learn from Paul’s response that might help me deal with efforts to discredit or quiet the gospel message today?